Recipe Tips

Preparation

Place 1/2 cup sugar, nuts, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in processor. Using on/off turns, process until nuts are finely ground. Add butter in 4 additions, processing to blend after each addition. Add almond extract; process to blend. Add flour and cinnamon. Using on/off turns, process until dough comes together. Transfer to work surface. Form dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and chill at least 2 hours. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.

Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Measure 1 tablespoon dough; form into ball, then roll into 2 1/2-inch-long log, tapering slightly at both ends. Gently bend into crescent shape. (If dough is very cold, it may form cracks; smooth over cracks before continuing.) Place on prepared sheet. Repeat with remaining dough, spacing cookies about 1 1/2 inches apart.

The hazelnut crescents and Triple-Ginger Cookies would both ship well. To make sure they arrive intact, pack the cookies in a metal tin between sheets of waxed paper. Ball up some waxed paper to place on top of the final cookie layer to make sure the cookies don't shift and break in transit.